BugwoodIDS:Taxonomy
From BugwoodWiki
Scientists and scholars use scientific names to create a common ground for the discussion of biological systems. It would make sense then that a system that catalouges images of living things in those biological systems would need to make sure that the scientific names used are correct.
In a perfect world, there is one valid scientific name that is used for a species and the distinction of what is and is not included in that group is clear. Likewise, there is one taxonomy that clearly defines the evolutionary relationships between organisms. Much to the dismay and anguish of some, this is not the case. Taxonomy is a fluid construct that changes as new evidence is discovered to better understand the development of the living world. Scientists debate and test the established heirarchy and develop new theroies as to the true structure of the "Tree of Life".
Although the Bugwood Network Staff are not taxonomists, they do need to keep abrest of the changes that do occur in scientific nomenclature. Fortunately, there are many outstanding resources that allow users to determine what scientific name is currently valid and also see what names are listed as synonyms. Rather than trying to be the ultimate authority on taxonomy in all of the groups, the Bugwood Network cites these references as the source for the currently accepted taxonomy. Since no one source covers all living things, multiple sources are needed. Below is a list of sources that the Bugwood Network commonly trusts.
| Name | Publisher | Trusted Taxonomic Area |
|---|---|---|
| PLANTS Database | USDA | Kingdom Plantae |
| Germplasm Resources Information Network | USDA | Kingdom Plantae |
| Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) | ITIS | Kingdom Animalia (not including Arthropods) |
| Nomenclator Zoologicus | uBio | Kingdom Animalia |
| Nomina Insecta Nearctica | Robert Poole / Smithsonian | Hexapods in North America |
| Fauna Europaea | European Commission | Kingdom Animalia in Europe |
| Assembling the Fungal Tree of Life | National Science Foundation | Higher taxonomy of the Kingdom Fungi (Kingdom to Genus) |
| IndexFungorum | CABI | Genus and species classifications in the Kingdom Fungi; Kingdom Chromista |
| World Spider Catalog | American Museum of Natural History | Order Aranae |
| Nearctic spider database | The Canadian Arachnologist | Order Aranae |
| Acari | Texas A&M | Order Acari |
| International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses | NCBI | Viruses |
| Bacterial Nomenclature Up-to-Date | DSMZ | Kingdom Monera |
